District Courts Reviewing ERISA Cases Under the Arbitrary and Capricious Review Standard Serve Only in an Appellate Role

In McCorkle v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 13-30745, 2014 WL 2983360 (5th Cir. 2014), the Fifth Circuit reversed the district court’s holding that MetLife’s adverse determination regarding the plaintiff’s claim for benefits due to the death of her husband (the “decedent”) under his employer’s Accidental Death and Dismemberment Plan (the “Plan”) was arbitrary and capricious. MetLife funded benefits and administered claims under the Plan pursuant to a full grant of discretionary authority. In her motion for summary judgment, the plaintiff challenged MetLife’s finding that the decedent’s death was both not “accidental” and subject to the Plan’s exclusions for self-inflicted injuries and suicide. The district court granted plaintiff summary judgment finding that her explanation of the decedent’s death was “more reasonable” than MetLife’s final determination that his death was the result of suicide.

The Fifth Circuit criticized the district court’s application of the arbitrary and capricious review standard, holding that in reviewing denied claims for benefits under this deferential standard, district courts:

are not sitting, as they usually are, as courts of first impression. Rather, they are serving in an appellate role. And, their latitude in that capacity is very narrowly restricted by ERISA and its regulations, as interpreted by the courts of appeals and the Supreme Court, including the oft-repeated admonition to affirm the determination of the plan administrator unless it is “arbitrary” or is not supported by at least “substantial evidence”—even if that determination is not supported by a preponderance.

The Fifth Circuit also held that MetLife was only required to base its determination on substantial evidence, which means “more than a scintilla, less than preponderance, and such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Based on its review of the plaintiff’s claim under the appropriate standard of review, the Fifth Circuit reversed the district court’s decision finding that MetLife’s determination was, in fact, based on substantial evidence. In addition, the Fifth Circuit held that the district court erred in holding that plaintiff’s explanation of the decedent’s death was “more reasonable” because this type of analysis improperly “constitutes finding the “‘preponderance,’ which has no place in this ERISA review.” Lastly, the Fifth Circuit held that the district court erred in disregarding MetLife’s deference by improperly substituting its own narrow interpretation of the term “suicide” for MetLife’s reasonable interpretation of that term.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

*With LinkedIn, you don't need to create a separate login to manage your free JD Supra account, and we can make suggestions based on your needs and interests. We will not post anything on LinkedIn in your name. Or, sign up using your email address.